'72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

[Tom L.]

Does anyone make correct A.I.R. tubes for the exhaust manifolds? I've seen originals and they don't look ike the ones vendors sell. They have "Pinched" ends on the outer tubes, originals come to a taper. Any help would be great, thanks!!

[Bill C.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

contact david -

http://www.cranescorvette.com

he has what you want, pretty sure. :-)

Bill

[Bill C.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

also -

Bill Hodell
330-832-0871

I got my restored check valves and diverter valve from him.

Bill

[Dick W.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

They have "Pinched" ends on the outer tubes, originals come to a taper. Any help would be great, thanks!!

The original set we bought that came off a 1,000 mile '72 had the pinched ends

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

thanks all. Dick, Not questioning your experiences but I looked at the 4th edition of the JG that I have (haven't gotten the new one yet) and it says: "350's used a flattened butterfly-type reducer between the outer and center fittings. For 454 engines this reduction was achieved in a smooth fashion, as if the tube had been swaged in a double tapered fashion."

The tubes that I have, and are not usable, came off a set of manifolds from a very original '72 that was parted out and the tubes are exactly as described in the JG. (and from what I was told it was a complete, original car, 75k miles on it and in my opinion should not have been cut up but that ship sailed). Is the info in the 4th edition incorrect? Does the 5th edition make a correction for this item? I'll post pics of what I have later.

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

The original set we bought that came off a 1,000 mile '72 had the pinched ends

Dick------

Yup, the tubes were made both ways. The tapered variety are the most common but the crimped variety were used, too. I expect there were 2 different manufacturers that made these tube assemblies and the GM specs allowed both configurations.

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

Thanks Joe, wasn't aware that there were two different designs. Attached are pics of what I have. Does anyone know if the tubes are available in both tapered and pinched? Thanks again!!

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

OK, one more question on this. Most vendors show a different set of tubes for '72 and later cars and '71 and earlier cars.

First question, is there a difference in configuration? Or just the swaged vs. pinched?

Second, like many early '72 parts are there early and late cut offs for the tubes? My pics show swaged while vendors show pinched for '72 and later. Thanks!!

[Bill C.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

pretty sure its a matter of swaged vs. pinched.

the 72 I had was a 4/5/72 build and had swaged tubes.

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

Thanks Bill, I suspect that configuration is the same but pics from vendors web sites show things a little different. First is a pic of tubes that are advertised as tubes for 68-71 tubes. Notice the swage. The second is for 72 - 74 tubes. The tubes I have are from a "winter" '72 which i close to Bills, don't have the vin but can decipher from other parts if needed, I don't have the new JG but is it documented when the tubes went from pinched to sawaged? And are the turn elbows different between the two. The pics show some differences. Maybe I'm over analyzing but like most. I want to do this once. Thanks!!

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

Thanks Bill, I suspect that configuration is the same but pics from vendors web sites show things a little different. First is a pic of tubes that are advertised as tubes for 68-71 tubes. Notice the swage. The second is for 72 - 74 tubes. The tubes I have are from a "winter" '72 which i close to Bills, don't have the vin but can decipher from other parts if needed, I don't have the new JG but is it documented when the tubes went from pinched to sawaged? And are the turn elbows different between the two. The pics show some differences. Maybe I'm over analyzing but like most. I want to do this once. Thanks!!

[Bill C.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

I would think that 72 cars are a mixed bag..
depending on who supplied the tubes at a point in time - what was laying around the assembly line etc...

73 and up, are the second type.

I would not get to crazy on this.
The vast majority of the 72 BB cars I have seen (restored or original) have always had the swaged type.
ironically - the 350 engines seem to have had the pinched type more often.
Go figure.

[Mark D.]

Re: '72 LS-5 A.I.R tubes

Originals have 4 steps of reduction. Repops have 3. Bill Hodel can fix you up with real or, you can take a minor deduction for repops.
Either way, it's all good. NCRS judging is so fair, the choice is yours.
Kramden